LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Tackling urban traffic congestion
Thursday, 2 April 2026
Research suggests that an ideal city requires at least 25 per cent road coverage; yet, our metropolises possess a mere 7 to 9 per cent. According to a World Bank report, Dhaka alone loses approximately 3.2 million work hours daily due to traffic, with an annual financial toll reaching billions of taka. These figures are more than statistics; they represent a slow-motion haemorrhage of the national economy.
Traffic congestion is rooted in deep-seated systemic issues. Primarily, it arises from unplanned urbanisation, where road density falls drastically below international standards. The dominance of private vehicles further exacerbates the crisis. In the absence of quality public transport, the number of private cars used by the middle and upper classes is rising exponentially. While a single bus can carry fifty passengers, a private car occupies a substantial portion of the road for just one or two individuals. Encroachment on sidewalks, haphazard parking and disregard for traffic laws have pushed this chaos to its limit.
To break free from this curse, action must move from theoretical discourse to scientific solutions. A revolution in public transport is essential, with bus route franchising and high-quality, air-conditioned services designed to discourage reliance on private cars. Modernising railways and waterways can also significantly ease pressure on road networks. Decentralisation is equally critical, spreading educational, healthcare, and administrative facilities across the country rather than concentrating opportunities in the capital. Finally, introducing AI-driven traffic signalling and ensuring strict enforcement of existing laws has become imperative.
Only through a synergy of thoughtful urban planning and civic responsibility can we hope for a day when we breathe a sigh of relief upon reaching our destination, rather than a sigh of despair in a traffic jam. Let the highway become a symphony of movement, not an epic of stagnation.
Sadia Islam Kasfia
Student
Jagannath University